Dag: 27 augustus 2017

Palestinian protesters take part in clashes with Israeli troops near the border between Israel and central Gaza strip, October 30, 2015

Israeli forces deployed near the borderlines of the Gaza Strip on Friday afternoon opened live ammunition and shot tear gas canisters at Palestinians protesting near Israel’s border fence in several areas of Gaza, causing scores of Palestinians to suffer tear gas inhalation, while another was injured after being struck by tear gas canisters.

Locals told Ma’an that Israeli forces shot live ammunition and tear gas canisters at Palestinian protesters who had approached the border fence between Gaza and Israel in the northern Gaza Strip, east of the town of Jabaliya. Israeli forces were deployed at nearby military towers and in army tanks near the border.

According to locals, a Palestinian “youth” – however, they did not specify the exact age — was injured during the clashes after he was hit with a tear gas canister in the chest and leg. He was transferred to the Indonesian Hospital for treatment in Beit Lahiya, where his injuries were reported as light.

Many other Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation during the clashes, locals said.

Clashes also erupted near Israel’s Nahal Oz military site in eastern Shujaaiya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City and east of al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

Locals told Ma’an that the soldiers opened live ammunition and shot tear gas at the Palestinians, causing scores to suffer from tear gas inhalation.

Dozens of Palestinians on Sunday participated in a protest in Nablus city to demand the return of withheld bodies of Palestinian martyrs.

The protest, in which families of martyrs and representatives of various organizations were present, was organized by the national campaign to restore martyrs’ bodies. Portraits of martyrs and banners demanding the return of their bodies were raised.

The campaign’s representative Muzaffar Douqan said, “We came here to tell families of martyrs that they are not alone,” and added, “We will not retreat until we bury every martyr in his hometown.”

Douqan pointed out that nearly 10 bodies of slain Palestinians are currently held in mortuary, while there are 249 others buried in Israel’s cemeteries of numbers. In addition to 67 missing bodies, he added, there are 19 Gazans whose fate has been unknown since the last Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.

He stressed that the threats declared by some Israeli ministers to transfer the bodies kept in mortuary to the cemeteries of numbers will make them more determined to continue their battle on the legal and popular level to restore martyrs’ bodies.

NABLUS (Ma’an) — An unidentified gunman opened fire at a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance in Balata refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank city of Nablus, which left a paramedic injured.

Fawwaz al-Beitar, the acting director of the Red Crescent ambulance service in Nablus, told Ma’an that an ambulance was sent to Balata at 2 a.m. after a the humanitarian organization received a phone call from a patient who needed urgent medical treatment.

As the ambulance arrived, a gunman appeared at the scene and started to fire at the ambulance, injuring 37-year-old paramedic Mahmoud al-Karmi with shrapnel in his hand and shoulder.

Al-Beitar maintained that that the Palestinian Authority (PA) should provide protection for medical teams who provide humanitarian services.

Balata refugee camp is often the site of violent clashes between armed locals fighting off raids from both Palestinian and Israeli forces, as the camp has long been one the main targets of security crackdowns aiming to seize weapons and detain wanted fugitives.

Palestinians have pointed out that the PA has long neglected the camp, which has claimed that the camp’s maintenance, including law enforcement, was the responsibility of UNRWA. According to Defense for Children International — Palestine, the PA’s neglect of the camp coupled with soaring unemployment rates created the space for some residents to become heavily involved in the illegal weapons trade.

The camp was established by the United Nations in 1950 to provide housing and services to refugees resulting from the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, which forced some 750,000 Palestinians to flee their homes.

JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — The Israeli Supreme Court has issued a temporary order preventing the Israeli Electric Corporation (IEC) from cutting power to the occupied West Bank as a punitive measure for outstanding Palestinian debts.

The court will have a final decision on the case in two months, according to Hisham al-Omari, the head of the Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO) — the Palestinian power company.

He said it was the second time the court issued such an order upon an appeal submitted by JDECO, after threats from IEC to turn off electricity to the West Bank.

In April 2016, IEC asked the Israeli Supreme Court for permission to disconnect JDECO grids due to accumulated debts, as the Israeli company imposed a spate punitive power cuts in major Palestinian cities across the occupied West Bank, which was denounced as constituting collective punishment.

After months of deliberations, the court rejected IEC’s request and issued a temporary order preventing the disconnection of JDECO’s grids.

Al-Omari said that IEC has continued to threaten to cut power despite an agreement that Israel and the Palestinian Authority signed in September 2016, which aimed to settle all electricity debt and to position the PA as the sole authority over electricity distribution across the occupied West Bank.

According to Israeli media, IEC has reportedly claimed that JDECO has not been paying the full monthly amount agreed upon since the agreement was signed, and since then JDECO’s debt has risen by an additional 200 million shekels, on top of the some two billion shekels ($530 million), which has been a source of tension between the two parties for years.

JDECO has reportedly had difficulty collecting debts from their clients and is also losing money due to differing tariff rates from what the IEC charges them and what they charge their clients, according to reports.

In the past, Israeli authorities have withheld tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA over unpaid bills owed to Israeli companies, threatening in 2015 to deduct over 1 billion shekels from taxes withheld from the PA in order to cover missed electricity bills.

Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) for the week of 17 – 23 August, 2017.

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child at Za’atarah Checkpoint, south of Nablus. 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in the West Bank and wounded 5 civilians, including a child, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Two of them were wounded in the West Bank, and the 3 others were wounded in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip continued to chase the Palestinian fishermen in the sea.

In the West Bank, on 19 August 2017, Israeli forces killed Qotayabah Zahran (17) from ‘Alar village, north of Tulkarm. The abovementioned was walking near a bus station when an Israeli soldier shouted at him to stop. However, the soldier stationed inside the watchtower established at the checkpoint directly opened fire at Zahran and killed him. The Israeli forces claimed that the abovementioned child attempted to stab one of the Israeli border guard officers, who were securing the checkpoint, so he was neutralized.

In the same context, during the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 2 Palestinian civilians after opening fire at them when the Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, north of the West Bank, to carry out an arrest campaign.

In the Gaza Strip, border areas witnessed protests against the unjust closure imposed on the Gaza population. During these protests, Israeli forces used force against the protestors, particularly when dispersing them. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded. One of them was wounded with a live bullet to the shoulder while the two others were wounded after being directly hit with sound bombs.

Concerning attacks on fishermen, on 21 August 2017, Israeli gunboats sporadically opened fire at and chased Palestinian fishing boats, northwest of Beit Lahia village, north of the Gaza Strip. The shooting recurred in the abovementioned area on 22 and 23 August 2017.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 43 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 10 ones in Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 49 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children. Twenty seven of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs while two children were arrested during a peaceful protest in Qalqiliya.

Collective Punishment Policy:

As part of the Israeli forces’ collective punishment policy against the families of Palestinian civilians who are accused of carrying out attacks against Israeli soldiers or/and settlers. On 17 August 2017, Israeli forces blew up te first floor of a house belonging to the family of ‘Adel ‘Ankoush in Deir Abu Mesh’al, northwest of Ramallah. Asa result, the ground floor sustained severe damage as well as a nearby house. It should be mentioned that on 16 June 2017 the Israeli forces killed the above-mentioned civilian along with his two friends after a stabbing and shooting attack in occupied Jerusalem, resulting in the killing of an Israeli female soldier.

Efforts to create Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem:

In the context of house demolitions, On 22 August 2017, Israeli Municipality bulldozers demolished a house belonging to ‘Abed al-Kareem Abu Sneinah in al-Bistan neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied Jerusalem’s Old City, for the 2nd time within one week. They then demolished the house. It should be noted that on Tuesday, 15 August 2017, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 2 houses belonging to Abu Sneinah family. Within one week, Abu Sinanh family along with activists managed to remove the rubble and re-built the house, but the Israeli forces again demolished the house. The Israeli authorities planned to demolish all the houses in al-Bostan neighborhood in favor of establishing “King Park” on its rubble.

Settlement activities and settler attacks

In the context of house demolitions and notices, on 22 August 2017, Israeli forces moved into Kherbit Jub al-Theeb, east of Bethlehem. The Israeli forces surrounded Jub al-Theeb Primary School, which was built few days ago by GVC and funded by the European Union. The Israeli forces dismantled the school rooms built of tin plates and carried them to trucks. It should be noted that the Abovementioned School was built after al-Zawahra family donated a 5-dunum plot of land in Beit Ta’mour complex. However, the Israeli authorities notified the residents to stop the construction work in the school under the pretext of non-licensing as it is located in an area under the full Israeli control according to the Oslo Accords.

Restrictions on movement:

Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 2 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 65%. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 47% and youth constitutes 65% of the unemployed persons. Moreover, 80% of the Gaza Strip population depends on international aid to secure their minimum daily needs. These rates indicate the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to suffocate the Palestinian cities and village by imposing military checkpoints around and/or between them. This created “cantons” isolated from each other that hinders the movement of civilians. Moreover, the Palestinian civilians suffering aggravated because of the annexation wall and checkpoints erected on daily basis to catch Palestinians.

Demonstrations in protest against the annexation wall and settlement activities

West Bank:

Following the Friday prayer on 18 August 2017, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages, west of Ramallah; al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of the city, and Kafer Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah. Israeli forces forcibly dispersed the protesters, firing live and metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. They also chased protesters into olive fields and between the houses. As a result, some of the protesters suffered tear gas inhalation while others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

At approximately 16:30 on the same Friday, Palestinian civilians organized a protest in the center of Qalqiliyah. They made their way to “Eyal” checkpoint established on the green line between Qalqiliya and Israel, northeast of the city. The protesters threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed there. The soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them and chased them. They arrested 2 civilians, including a child, namely Laith yusuf (16) and Ahmed ‘Adel al-Haj Hasan (22).

Gaza Strip:

At approximately 16:00 on the same Friday, 18 August 2017, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, in response to calls for protests in the border area against the Israeli measures in occupied Jerusalem. A number of the young men set fire to tires and threw stones at the Israeli forces stationed along the abovementioned border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at them. The clashes continued until approximately 20:00 on the same day. As a result, a 20-year-old civilian, from al-Tuffah neighborhood, sustained a live bullet wound to the left shoulder; a 24-year-old civilian from Sheikh Redwan neighborhood in Gaza was hit with a tear gas canister to the back; and a 16-year-old civilian, from Jabalia, was hit with a tear gas canister to the chest.

(PCHR keeps the name of the wounded civilians)

Collective Punishment:

As part of the collective punishment policy adopted by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian civilians accused of carrying out attacks against Israeli soldiers or/and settlers, on Thursday dawn, 17 August 2017, Israeli forces demolished a house belonging to ‘Adel Hasan Ahmed ‘Ankoush in Deir Abu Mesh’al village, northwest of Ramallah. ‘Ankoush was killed by the Israeli forces on 16 June 2017.

According to PCHR’s investigation and eyewitnesses’ accounts, at approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 17 August 2017, Israeli forces backed by several military jeeps and an engineering unit moved into Deir Abu Mesh’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They then surrounded a 2-storey house belonging to the family of ‘Adel Hasan Ahmed ‘Ankoush. The house was built on an area of 150 square meters, sheltering 6 members, including 4 children. Many soldiers raided the second floor in the house while the engineering unit planted explosives inside and blew it up. As a result, the ground floor sustained serious damage in addition to a nearby house belonging to Mustafa Sobhi Far as the bedroom wall collapsed.

It should be noted that on 16 June 2017, the Israeli forces killed ‘Adel and two of his friends namely Bara’a Ibrahim Saleh ‘Ata and Osama Ahmed Dahdouh ‘Ata from Deir Abu Mesh’al village, after they carried out a stab and shooting attack against al-Sultan Suleiman Street at the northern entrance to Bab al-Amoud (Damascus Gate) in East Jerusalem. The attack caused the death of an Israeli female soldier. Moreover, the Israeli forces raided the houses of the 3 killed civilians on 17 June 2017 and orally informed them of the demolition decision of their houses after they took thir measurements.

Arrests at Military Checkpoints:

At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 18 August 2017, Israeli forces stationed at a military checkpoint in Hebron, arrested Anas Ibrahim Mohamed Qat (21), from Madamah village, south of Nablus. Anas was on a trip with his family to Hebron. In the meantime, the Israeli forces stopped the family, checked their IDs and then arrested Anas.

At approximately 07:30 on Monday, 21 August 2017, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of al-Nabi Salah village, northwest of Ramallah. They stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked civilians’ IDs. In the meantime, they arrested Mohamed Faied ‘Arqoub (18), from Kafur ‘Ain village, northwest of the city.

On Wednesday, 24 August 2017, Israeli forces, who were patrolling in the vicinity of Daniel settlement, south of al-Khadir village, south of Bethlehem, arrested 3 Palestinian civilians while they were at the southern entrance to the village. The arrested persons were identified as Reziq Shehadah Salah (44), Ashraf Mahmoud Salah (39), and Museed Suliman Salah (37).

Efforts to Create Jewish majority

Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it:

Arrests and Incursions:

At 01:00 on Thursday, 17 August 2017, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Mohamed ‘Arafat Abu al-Hamam (19), ‘Odai Samer Abu Tayieh (19), and Abed al-Raheem al-‘Abasi (33).

At approximately 02:00 on Friday, 18 August 2017, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Mansour al-‘Abasi (17) and arrested him.

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 19 August 2017, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Hisham al-Qaq (22) and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in al-Nabi Ya’qoub police station, north of the city.

At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 20 August 2017, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Mohamed Monther ‘Atiyiah (15), Mohamed Thaier Mahmoud (16) and Mahmoud Adeib Abu al-Humus (14).

At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces handed al-Sheikh Nour al-Deen Ishaq al-Rajbi (54) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in al-Maskobiyia police center in West Jerusalem, in order to question him. At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 21 August 2017, the Israeli forces arrested al-Rajabi when he attended al-Mascoubiyia center and questioned him. At approximately 22:00 on the same day, Nour al-Deen was released, but he was forcibly deported from al-‘Aqsa Mosque for one week. This summons handed to al-Sheikh al-Rajabi is the 3rd summons within one month. It should be noted that the Israeli forces previously arrested al Rajabi and beat him up in the vicinity of al-Asbat (Lion Gate).

At approximately 00:00 on Monday, 21 August 2017, Israeli forces moved into Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdullah Jamal Ma’arjah (17) and arrested him.

At approximately 01:00 on Monday, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Izariyia village, east of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hasan Ashraf Abu al-Reesh (17) and arrested him.

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Badow village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Adham Mohamed Saleh Badwan and Saleh Kassab ‘Ayyash.

At approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 22 August 2017, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Fahmi Faroukh in ‘Ain al-Louza neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied Jerusalem. They also arrested Mohamed’s daughter, Heba (15), and took her to an unknown destination. Fahmi Faroukh, Mohamed’s father, said that the Israeli forces accompanied with Israeli Intelligence officers and sniffer dogs raided his son’s house and prevented anyone from entering it. In the meantime, they beat up all the house residents. As a result, Mohamed’s wife sustained a toe fracture and was then taken to receive medical treatment. Moreover, the Israeli forces attacked Fahim’s grandchild, Yazan (14). Fahmi added that the Israeli forces damaged all the house contents and arrested his son, Mohamed, his grandchild, Heba, without showing either the search or arrest warrant.

At approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 23 August 2017, Israeli forces moved into Badow village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Yousef Khalid Dar al-Shaiekh, Ahmed Husain al-Shaiekh, Mohamed Falah al-Shaiekh and Abdullah Kamal al-Shaiekh.

House Demolitions:

On Tuesday, 22 August 2017, Israeli Municipality bulldozers demolished a house belonging to ‘Abed al-Kareem Abu Sneinah in al-Bostan neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied Jerusalem’s Old City, for the 2nd time within one week. Silwan village’s residents said that the Israeli forces accompanied with Israeli vehicles and Israeli Municipality crews moved into al-Bostan neighborhood, surrounded the under-construction house of Abu Sneinah family, and demolished it.

It should be noted that, on Tuesday, 15 August 2017, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 2 houses belonging to Abu Sneinah family. During one week, Abu Sinanh family along with activists removed the rubble and re-built the house, but the Israeli forces demolished the house again. The Israeli authorities planned to demolish all houses in al-Bostan neighborhood in favor of establishing “King Park” as since 2005, the Israeli authorities have distributed notices to residents. Over the past period, the residents were able to delay and abolish demolition orders through popular campaigns and legal proceedings. All the decisions are in effect now after the Israeli the municipality rejected all the plans submitted by the residents.

Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and property

At approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 22 August 2017, Israeli forces accompanied with around 30 military vehicles and mounted-crane trucks moved into Kherbit Jub al-Deeb, east of Bethelehm, which is located in Beit Ta’mour residential complex. The Israeli forces surrounded Jub al-Deeb Primary School, which was built of tin plates few days ago by GVC and funded the EU. The Israeli forces dismantled the tin plates and carried them to the truck. The Israeli forces stationed in the area until 00:00, during which, the village residents attempted to prevent the Israeli forces from stationing in the area. As a result, the Israeli forces fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the residents and then detained them in a far place until the military vehicles withdrew.

It should be noted that the Abovementioned School was built after Zawahra family donated a five-and-a-half-dunum plot of land in the centre of the Beit Ta’mour complex. The school administration was informed by the Israeli authorities to stop construction work in the school under the pretext of non-licensing. However, the project was completed, and six out of eight caravans were placed one day before the beginning of the new school year. Khirbet Jub al-Deeb is located in an area under the full Israeli control, so its residents should obtain permits from the Israeli Civil Administration to enable them to build and use the land for any purpose. This is considered impossible because of the impossible conditions imposed by the Israeli authorities in this regard, not to mention the Israeli Civil Administration’s policy of deliberately neglecting planning and developing the Palestinian villages located within the ‘C’ areas such as Jub al-Deeb to force its residents to leave voluntarily and move from their lands and villages to other areas. In the past years, the Israeli authorities have tightened their grip on the village residents to force them to leave, targeting three houses belonging to the residents under the pretext of non-licensing. Moreover, five other families left the village because they were deprived of their rights in the village and forced them to live in other areas. The rest of the village’s houses are still under threat because of non- licensing.

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 10 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law. Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.

PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.

PCHR calls upon the ICC in 2017 to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.

PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.

PCHR calls upon the international community to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.

PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.

PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.

PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.

PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.

PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.

PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.

PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.

PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.

PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.

For 50 years, ever since the start of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinians have been banned from any kind of political expression, even peaceful ones, Amnesty International (AI) said on Saturday, according to WAFA.

Marking 50 years since Israel issued Military Order 101, a law that punishes Palestinians for peaceful political expression, anyone breaching the order faces imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or a hefty fine, said AI.

It said that, since 1967, Israel has arrested and detained hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, under military orders. Many were detained under Military Order 101 solely for attending peaceful protests that were deemed to be political.

In addition, the display of flags or emblems, and the publication of any document or image with politically significant content, without a permit from an Israeli military commander are banned.

Over the last 50 years, Palestinians have been arrested and detained for displaying a poster in a room, if it was deemed political, and for raising the Palestinian flag. Such acts continue to be criminalized despite the fact that in 1993 Palestinians signed a peace accord with Israel that was meant to recognize their political rights, and United Nations recognition of Palestine as a non-member state in 2012 as well as 135 UN member states recognizing Palestine as a state.

“And yet, raising the Palestinian flag in the West Bank or displaying the ‘wrong’ poster in a room is still a criminal act under Israeli military orders, unless an Israeli army commander authorizes it,” said AI.

The law also applies to verbal or other expressions of support or sympathy for the activities and aims of any organization deemed illegal under military orders.

“Virtually all cases of Palestinians brought before Israeli military courts end in convictions. Most convictions are the result of plea bargains. This is because Palestinian defendants know the entire system is so unfair that if they go on trial, they will be convicted and given a longer sentence,” according to the AI report.

Tunisia- Stances expressed by Ennahdha Party and Al Nidaa Party have revealed a huge difference in points of view towards the ministerial amendment that was announced by Prime Minister of Tunisia Yousef El-Shahed, before he delayed its implementation later on.

The ministerial amendment has been proposed since April when Shahed dismissed ministers of education, finance and investment. Reliable sources stated that Shahed hasn’t yet finalized the ideal figures to replace the three sacked ministers because of the considerable number of candidacies and pressure from opposition parties.

Points of views regarding the ministerial amendment varied between the two parties. Ennahdha executive office insisted that any vast change in the government formation should be postponed until local elections are completed.

But the executive office also urged filling the partial void in certain ministries until a new political map is formed after Dec. 17 – date of municipal elections. As for the candidates, Ennahda spokesman Imad al-Khamiri said that the party has suggested to the prime minister
known for their qualification.

Khamiri highlighted that ministers should have the needed qualifications, integrity and transparency.

Several political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that standing in the way of implementing the ministerial amendment and filling the void in the government attributes to Shahed pursuit to assign an expert in economy in the ministry of finance in order to be a strong negotiator with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Same sources added that Shahed is seeking thorough information from the ministries of interior and justice on candidates to avoid facing challenges similar to that of the Minister of Investment Mohammed Fadel Abdel Kafi who appeared to be facing a lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Finance.

The Israeli occupation authorities have arrested 800 Palestinian children since the start of this year, most of them from occupied Jerusalem, the Palestinian Detainees and Ex-detainees Committee revealed on Saturday.

According to Issa Qaraqe, head of the Committee, some 25 of the detained minors were shot by Israeli gunfire during their arrest.

In a statement on Saturday, Qaraqe said that dozens of the children have been arrested several times. Some of them, he explained, are unable to go to school because they have permanent disabilities resulting from the ill-treatment to which they were subjected during arrest and investigation, including torture.

Qaraqe said that the Committee receives testimonials from young ex-detainees that prove being beaten, tortured, verbally abused, handcuffed and subjected to other kinds of maltreatment at the hands of Israeli soldiers.

He also underlined that such treatment of children, is a “flagrant violation” of international humanitarian law. He called on the Palestinian Authority to prosecute Israeli leaders for the violations and offenses practiced against Palestinian children.

A US delegation led by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has reportedly told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that a halt in settlement construction in the West Bank is impossible, because it could bring about the collapse of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Hebrew sources reported.

Walla Hebrew website said that the US delegation told Abbas that it would work to consolidate economic, security and diplomatic relations between Israel and the Palestinians before the talks begin.

The Palestinians, for their part, asked the US delegation to help reach a two-state solution. The delegation, however, preferred to leave that for discussion by both sides.

The US delegation, headed by Kushner and Trump’s envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt, met separately on Thursday with Netanyahu and with Abbas in an effort to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace, something Trump referred to as “the ultimate deal.”

Jerusalem clerics on Sunday called on the Palestinian people to intensify their presence at al-Aqsa Mosque next Tuesday to protect the site against expected break-ins by Israeli Knesset members.

They said in a statement that Israeli government’s decision allowing MKs to enter al-Aqsa Mosque is “provocative, irresponsible and legally baseless”, affirming that al-Aqsa belongs to Muslims only.

The statement praised the Palestinian people, especially Jerusalemites, for standing for al-Aqsa Mosque, and noted that Israelis’ repeated violations and attacks will not grant them any right in the holy site.

On 23rd August, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a decision that allows MKs to visit al-Aqsa Mosque starting next Tuesday, and based on this visit, other new steps may be taken.

Israeli government in October 2015 imposed a ban on MKs’ entry into al-Aqsa Mosque following security assessments showing that the incursions conducted into the Mosque by Jewish groups, including ministries and MKs, were a key factor in the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada at that time.